When Jesus fed the 5,000, it was a miracle. He used a small child with two fish and five loafs of bread to feed a multitude. It was a prefigurement of the Eucharist. It was also meeting the basic needs of hungry people. But then I heard a woman refer to the boy with the bread as “the boy who helped Jesus carry out his miracle.” He wasn’t used. He was more than a vessel or an unaware participant. He did what he could to help. He offered his small meal and trusted that Jesus would make use of those resources.
We often think of Jesus’ miracles as a supernatural action
outside of what’s going on around him. His power alone. And while miracles are
supernatural, they are not totally separate from the natural world, influenced
by time and place and people. And people can choose whether to help or not. The
boy offered up his meal. The servants filled the water jars at the wedding in
Cana. Peter, James, and John put out their nets. The blind man went and washed the
mud from his eyes.
Jesus had people help carry out his miracles. They performed
practical actions, ordinary tasks. But they did them out of obedience, trust,
and love. It was something they had each done several times before. But this
time was different. It was for Jesus. And whether they realized it or not, it helped
Jesus in a miracle that would be remembered for generations.
We have more control than we think. We have more power than
we think. Our practical, ordinary actions can have more meaning and further consequences
than we realize. Jesus wants us to help, not just receive. Jesus
needs our help. We are called to do the work, daily. I don't want to just be a vessel, an instrument used for miracles; I want to be a holy helper.
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